BlackboardFSU, FAMU Invite Scouts to Engineering Challenge
As part of an ongoing effort to inspire a more hand-on approach in the community, members of Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) of the Florida State University and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University electrical and computer engineering honor society, as well as the FAMU/FSU Society of Women Engineers, hosted the "Teen Engineering Day Challenge," where close to 10 boy scouts and 20 girl scouts from around the Tallahassee area gathered for a chance to earn an engineering badge, as well as to learn about the field of engineering. The event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., consisted of a variety of events, where students participated in an array of activities including the chance to work with AutoCad, an engineering graphic tool. Participants also had the chance to build their own rollercoaster and assemble their own electrical circuits. Event organizers managed to obtain the keys for the College of Engineering building, where students were able to practice hands-on activities within various labs.
"The motivation behind the event was a desire to reach out to the community and do a memorable community service event," said Benjamin Salazar, president of HKN and one of the main event organizers.
When the scouts arrived, they were matched up with their "fluidity leaders," who stayed with the group of kids for the remainder of the day as they participated in activities involving magnets, solar cars, hand-crank generators and marbles.
"The event was a complete success," said Amanda Schram, the current Outreach Chair of the Society of Women Engineers, future Co-Vice President of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the future corresponding secretary of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. "Our goal was for the kids to have fun and to enjoy their time at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. It was great watching the scouts and troop leaders enjoy themselves after all the hard work that Ben, the volunteers and I had put into the event. Just seeing their faces light up when they got their marble to shoot out of their loop and into the basket was enough for six months of planning to be worth it."
After lunch, those in attendance gathered to hear six local engineers from companies around the Tallahassee area speak about the various professional avenues contained within the field of engineering. Professors from the College of Engineering were also on hand to answer questions not addressed by the speakers.
"They were informing the scouts about what engineers do and why they do what they do," said Salazar, an FSU senior gearing up to graduate this semester. "They learned about how they help mankind, help society, make things easier and better for the future and how they go about doing their jobs. They even talked about specific things, like what a civil engineer does and how they go and build bridges and highways, whereas an electrical engineer will work on electronics and communication."
According to Salazar, spreading the word keeps everyone informed. After graduation, he will work at the Johns Hopkins University applied physics laboratory. "It's very important to make an impact on kids because you want to expose them to what there is out in the world," said Salazar. "Lots of kids in middle school or even high school are scared of science and math, but exposing them to what engineers do, that makes them more excited about it. I want them to at least know what it is, so that they at least have an option. When they go off to college and need to decide on a career or major they want to pursue, they will be fully informed."
Schram also said that giving back to the community was a top priority.
"Giving back to the community is extremely important," said Schram. "At the College of Engineering, we have so many resources that we need to share with the local community. We have software and materials that we, as college students, take for granted. Getting kids excited about math and science early is key. We wanted them to know that an engineering profession is an option. Also, many college students often live in Tallahassee for four years and then move on. We want the community to value its college population and be able to take advantage of what we have to offer. Having us actively spread our knowledge and experience is one way to accomplish a community connection."
Toward the end of the event, field leaders led a reflection time with their assigned scouts, where they were able to talk about the day, share the highs and lows and relate their ideas about how the field of engineering relates to the goals of boy and girl scouts.
That kind of educational and mentoring relationship is what Salazar believes helped the event's success.
"I want to thank our 50 volunteers that came out for the day," said Salazar. Students from all different majors, even grad students, participated. "I would also like to thank the College of Engineering for allowing us to put on the events."
Story from the FSView & Florida Flambeau, online at: http://fsunews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110410/FSVIEW/110410019/0/FSVIEW02
